Ex-Formula 1 driver Will Stevens moves to Manor WEC LMP2 team
Former Manor Formula 1 driver Will Stevens will follow John Booth and Graeme Lowdon into the World Endurance Championship this year
Stevens missed out on an F1 seat with Manor Racing in 2016, as the team elected to enlist Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto.
The British driver will switch to sportscars with his former F1 team bosses, as Booth and Lowdon move to the WEC and Le Mans 24 Hours' LMP2 class as Manor Motorsport.
"The opportunity to continue my relationship with Graeme and John was one that I was very pleased to accept," Stevens said.
"It gives me a great chance to explore endurance racing, be competitive and go racing with people I enjoyed working with last year so I'm looking forward to it.
"My objective is to have a number of top level career choices going forward, and to be able to gain experience in endurance racing will hopefully open up my career prospects.
"I want to keep very busy, enjoy my racing and do some winning and I'm confident that by working again with Manor in WEC I'll achieve all of those things."
Manor originally announced it would run one ORECA-Nissan 05 this year, but has expanded its plans and will now field a second.
Stevens joins former Manor F3 driver Tor Graves as a confirmed driver.
"Everything has moved very quickly since we first announced that we would be entering the 2016 World Endurance Championship," Booth said.
"It is great news to be running an additional ORECA 05 LMP2, we can't wait to get started with the season at the prologue at the end of March.
"It's great that Will is joining the team, we know his talent and speed from working with him over the last few years in Formula 1 and we are all really looking forward to going racing with him."
Porsche logs more than 4000km with 2016 WEC racer in tyre test
Toyota places protege Hirakawa with TDS for ELMS and Le Mans LMP2
Jota drivers proud of WEC title in LMP2's "most competitive" year
Jota drivers proud of WEC title in LMP2's "most competitive" year Jota drivers proud of WEC title in LMP2's "most competitive" year
Jota rues lack of FCY that scuppered strategy in WEC Fuji 6 Hours
Jota rues lack of FCY that scuppered strategy in WEC Fuji 6 Hours Jota rues lack of FCY that scuppered strategy in WEC Fuji 6 Hours
Stevens confident he can help WTR find continued IMSA success
Stevens confident he can help WTR find continued IMSA success Stevens confident he can help WTR find continued IMSA success
Detroit street track “really came alive” during IndyCar race
Detroit street track “really came alive” during IndyCar race Detroit street track “really came alive” during IndyCar race
Hamilton and Russell praise Schumacher role in F1 Spanish GP turnaround
Hamilton and Russell praise Schumacher role in F1 Spanish GP turnaround Hamilton and Russell praise Schumacher role in F1 Spanish GP turnaround
McLaren IndyCar drivers to discuss Detroit GP “elbows out” clash internally
McLaren IndyCar drivers to discuss Detroit GP “elbows out” clash internally McLaren IndyCar drivers to discuss Detroit GP “elbows out” clash internally
How Wehrlein turned the tables to move back ahead in Formula E title tussle
How Wehrlein turned the tables to move back ahead in Formula E title tussle How Wehrlein turned the tables to move back ahead in Formula E title tussle
Can Peugeot turn its style into substance at Le Mans?
Can Peugeot turn its style into substance at Le Mans? Can Peugeot turn its style into substance at Le Mans?
How Ferrari’s threat is growing against Toyota approaching Le Mans
How Ferrari’s threat is growing against Toyota approaching Le Mans How Ferrari’s threat is growing against Toyota approaching Le Mans
Why Cadillac can make amends for its previous Le Mans failures
Why Cadillac can make amends for its previous Le Mans failures Why Cadillac can make amends for its previous Le Mans failures
The chasm Toyota’s rivals must bridge before Le Mans
The chasm Toyota’s rivals must bridge before Le Mans The chasm Toyota’s rivals must bridge before Le Mans
How Toyota rendered its Le Mans agony a distant memory
How Toyota rendered its Le Mans agony a distant memory How Toyota rendered its Le Mans agony a distant memory
Why the WEC should make space for modern garagistes in 2023
Why the WEC should make space for modern garagistes in 2023 Why the WEC should make space for modern garagistes in 2023
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022 Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022
Is Qatar the price motorsport fans have to pay?
Is Qatar the price motorsport fans have to pay? Is Qatar the price motorsport fans have to pay?
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.